Mdantsane's growing black middle class is increasingly reluctant to leave their ’burb for dinner and drinks in the city and it’s no small wonder with the variety and quality of entertainment in their own backyard.For a couple of years now Mdantsane Lounge, situated at the Mdantsane Sun in the township’s Highway business centre has hosted laid back Sunday jazz as well as a number of comedy events all paired with a food and drink offering at very reasonable prices.
It is owned by renowned boxing promoter Mzimasi Mnguni’s son Mkhuseli. Once inside people often forget they are in the township. The place has an up-market feel and decor normally associated with affluent entertainment spots, miles away from townships.
Other venues opened more recently all have the same common thread – they are up-market and aimed squarely at attracting the growing middle class.
Fana’s Lounge was launched in October in the township’s NU10, Mthombo’s Palace Restro Lounge in NU7, was launched last weekend, Jeff’s Place Executive Lounge launched earlier this month, and there is the new Ta MaOni’s entertainment centre, both of which are in NU3.
On our trip exploring the new venues our first stop was Mthombo’s Palace, an establishment truly befitting its name.
It is predominately an eatery that serves mostly African cuisine such as umleqwa, ulusu, umnqambulo, isibindi and skullkop.
Western dishes such as platters comprising various combinations of ribs, chicken wings, rump steak, T-bone, pork chops and a variety of burgers, are also on offer as well as sweet treats such as carrot cake and red velvet cakes.
Mthombo’s Restro Lounge boasts a huge outdoor beer garden and nearby braai area set alongside a water fountain for those who like to enjoy themselves outdoors.
For those who like to indulge in their alcoholic beverages in relative privacy, there is a “private lounge with dark-tinted windows which can take up to 30 people”.
The place also boasts a cigar lounge, formal restaurant, butchery and a pool area where manager Siyakudumisa “Carlo” Nkula said pool parties “will be the order of the day” in the upcoming festive season.
His wheelchair-bound father Mthombo Nkula said the idea of investing in an up-market venue in the middle of a sprawling township, came after he had noted that “those in the middle class, those who wanted to chill in a jazzy and tranquil environment while enjoying their drinks and African dishes, had few options in the township.
“We want them to remain locally, while we are also gunning to attract those from outside who might want to enjoy a township experience in the up-market environment familiar to them from affluent suburbs,” said Nkula senior.
His establishment, which also features an internet cafe and hair salon, has created about 20 job opportunities. It hosts live jazz every Saturday, and families can come and enjoy African cuisine in a form of a buffet every Sunday.
Next stop was Jeff’s Place in NU3. It has been around for a few years and attracts hundreds of revellers every weekend. A new executive lounge for those who seek an up-market feel was recently launched.
This red and white-themed lounge boasts a private bar where patrons get to enjoy drinks in a tranquil environment away from the hordes who frequent the place over weekends.
We then dashed off to TaMaOni’s entertainment centre in NU3 which has its grand opening this weekend.
The centre, owned by husband and wife Cedrick Bobotyana and Nono Ntunzi-Bobotyana, both lawyers, is an all-in-one venue with bottle store, butchery, restaurant, lounge and tshisa nyama.
Ntunzi-Bobotyana said their establishment catered for everyone, however, “people will need to dress decently” in order to gain entry.
Another hotspot is Fana’s Lounge in NU10.
The Fana entertainment group owns various establishments across Buffalo City Metro, and this lounge launched recently is next door to their popular tavern.
Unlike the tavern, however, which normally attracts crowds of revellers, the lounge, with its red and white couches, has an up-market feel that will attract those who like to have their drinks in affluent entertainment spots.
Manager Msingathi Tola said the lounge had opened a few months back in response to a need to accommodate their upmarket clients who only visited their next door tavern for takeaways.
“We decided to open this as some of our clients could not tolerate the rowdy behaviour of some of our patrons in the next door tavern,” he said.
He added that people needing to relax and enjoy their meat and drinks “in an up-market feel, in a township environment, Fana’s Lounge was the place to be for them”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
M’sane home to top local entertainment
For a couple of years now Mdantsane Lounge, situated at the Mdantsane Sun in the township’s Highway business centre has hosted laid back Sunday jazz as well as a number of comedy events all paired with a food and drink offering at very reasonable prices.
It is owned by renowned boxing promoter Mzimasi Mnguni’s son Mkhuseli. Once inside people often forget they are in the township. The place has an up-market feel and decor normally associated with affluent entertainment spots, miles away from townships.
Other venues opened more recently all have the same common thread – they are up-market and aimed squarely at attracting the growing middle class.
Fana’s Lounge was launched in October in the township’s NU10, Mthombo’s Palace Restro Lounge in NU7, was launched last weekend, Jeff’s Place Executive Lounge launched earlier this month, and there is the new Ta MaOni’s entertainment centre, both of which are in NU3.
On our trip exploring the new venues our first stop was Mthombo’s Palace, an establishment truly befitting its name.
It is predominately an eatery that serves mostly African cuisine such as umleqwa, ulusu, umnqambulo, isibindi and skullkop.
Western dishes such as platters comprising various combinations of ribs, chicken wings, rump steak, T-bone, pork chops and a variety of burgers, are also on offer as well as sweet treats such as carrot cake and red velvet cakes.
Mthombo’s Restro Lounge boasts a huge outdoor beer garden and nearby braai area set alongside a water fountain for those who like to enjoy themselves outdoors.
For those who like to indulge in their alcoholic beverages in relative privacy, there is a “private lounge with dark-tinted windows which can take up to 30 people”.
The place also boasts a cigar lounge, formal restaurant, butchery and a pool area where manager Siyakudumisa “Carlo” Nkula said pool parties “will be the order of the day” in the upcoming festive season.
His wheelchair-bound father Mthombo Nkula said the idea of investing in an up-market venue in the middle of a sprawling township, came after he had noted that “those in the middle class, those who wanted to chill in a jazzy and tranquil environment while enjoying their drinks and African dishes, had few options in the township.
“We want them to remain locally, while we are also gunning to attract those from outside who might want to enjoy a township experience in the up-market environment familiar to them from affluent suburbs,” said Nkula senior.
His establishment, which also features an internet cafe and hair salon, has created about 20 job opportunities. It hosts live jazz every Saturday, and families can come and enjoy African cuisine in a form of a buffet every Sunday.
Next stop was Jeff’s Place in NU3. It has been around for a few years and attracts hundreds of revellers every weekend. A new executive lounge for those who seek an up-market feel was recently launched.
This red and white-themed lounge boasts a private bar where patrons get to enjoy drinks in a tranquil environment away from the hordes who frequent the place over weekends.
We then dashed off to TaMaOni’s entertainment centre in NU3 which has its grand opening this weekend.
The centre, owned by husband and wife Cedrick Bobotyana and Nono Ntunzi-Bobotyana, both lawyers, is an all-in-one venue with bottle store, butchery, restaurant, lounge and tshisa nyama.
Ntunzi-Bobotyana said their establishment catered for everyone, however, “people will need to dress decently” in order to gain entry.
Another hotspot is Fana’s Lounge in NU10.
The Fana entertainment group owns various establishments across Buffalo City Metro, and this lounge launched recently is next door to their popular tavern.
Unlike the tavern, however, which normally attracts crowds of revellers, the lounge, with its red and white couches, has an up-market feel that will attract those who like to have their drinks in affluent entertainment spots.
Manager Msingathi Tola said the lounge had opened a few months back in response to a need to accommodate their upmarket clients who only visited their next door tavern for takeaways.
“We decided to open this as some of our clients could not tolerate the rowdy behaviour of some of our patrons in the next door tavern,” he said.
He added that people needing to relax and enjoy their meat and drinks “in an up-market feel, in a township environment, Fana’s Lounge was the place to be for them”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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